Union Valley Reservoir Dispersed Camping offers free primitive sites near Pollock Pines at 4,600 feet elevation. This area provides more seclusion than established campgrounds, though sites lack amenities like toilets or trash service. Winter access becomes limited when snow closes higher elevation roads, typically from October through April, restricting camping options to lower elevations.
What to do
Kayaking and paddleboarding: Union Valley Reservoir provides expansive water recreation with minimal crowds on weekdays. "The lake is GORGEOUS and amazingly cool during the summer, and we also love winter camping in the snow as well," notes a visitor to Sly Park Recreation Area.
Gold panning history: Visit historic sites near camping areas to experience California's gold rush heritage. A camper at Coloma Resort shared, "It's walking distance from the historic town of Coloma and the Argonaut for breakfast and lunch (and Gelato!)."
Waterfall hiking: Several campgrounds offer accessible waterfall trails within walking distance. "There is a lovely, short hike to a waterfall! It's just a 1 mile walk along the lakeshore from the Hazel Creek day use parking area," explains a camp host from Sly Park Recreation Area.
What campers like
Lake temperature variations: Water temperature differs significantly between reservoirs. At Union Valley Reservoir Dispersed Camping, one camper notes, "So beautiful, and the lake is really warm in the summer," contrasting with cooler waters at higher elevations.
Privacy levels: Site spacing varies dramatically across campgrounds. At Finnon Lake Recreation Area, a camper reports, "Sites were okay. Not spacious but not too tight either," while another camper at Ice House Campground had a different experience: "They were small and barely able to handle a single large tent let alone two tents. Sites were close with no landscaping on forest grounds to give privacy."
Stargazing quality: The area offers exceptional night sky viewing away from urban light pollution. A camper at Sly Park explains, "The stars are breathtaking at night. Gotta be my favorite part. It's also fun to look across the lake and see all of the campfires sparkling in the distance."
What you should know
Cell service reality: Despite remote locations, several campgrounds offer surprising connectivity. A visitor to Union Valley Reservoir reports "Full cell service at campground," which contradicts expectations for wilderness camping.
Reservation timing: Popular sites book months in advance, especially for summer weekends. "Our group has been camping at Sly Park together and respectively since 1996, and we can't ever get enough. It's a very popular camping spot, so I recommend planning and reserving sometimes several months in advance."
Road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds pose challenges for larger vehicles. A camper at Finnon Lake warns, "Keep in mind that the road (Mosquito) going here is narrow and too winding. The old bridge can only accommodate one vehicle at a time and RV's and trailers are advised to take the Rock Creek Road instead."
Tips for camping with families
Accessibility ratings: Some trails accommodate all age groups. At Sly Park Recreation Area, one camper mentioned, "Beautiful hikes that are easy for young children. Plenty of trails to choose from."
Timing strategies: Weekdays offer significantly quieter experiences than weekends. A host at Ghost Mountain RV Campground suggests, "If you would rather not deal with the 'Weekend Warrior' type of campers, book your stay for mid-week (Mon-Thurs) and probably avoid camping in July altogether."
Activity facilities: Several campgrounds include family-friendly infrastructure beyond basic camping. "They have a nice arcade and ice cream parlor and they sell ice. Everyone is kind and accommodating," reports a visitor to Ghost Mountain RV Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site limitations: Larger RVs face significant restrictions at some campgrounds. A visitor to American River Resort warns, "The terrain is steep with mostly smaller sites. I would be very cautious about coming here with a larger RV. Ours is 30' bumper to bumper. I think 32 would be ok."
Power concerns: Electrical service varies widely across campgrounds. One RVer at American River Resort noted, "The power is not good. I had to bypass the surge suppressor because it kept cutting out due to low voltage. Voltage was generally 104-105."
Loop navigation: Interior roads at some campgrounds challenge larger rigs. A camp host at Sly Park cautions, "Rainbow, Kam Loop, Dogwood and Hazel Creek camping loops are nicely shaded and stay much cooler than the camping loops toward the front of the park but it can be tough to get a larger motorhome or travel trailer into the back of the park. The roads are very narrow with plenty of blind corners."
